About Kris Needs
Born 1954. Kris Needs is a British journalist, music critic, writer and music journalist.
Kris Needs (born 3 July 1954) is a British journalist and author, known for writings on music from the 1970s onwards. He became editor of proto-punk and early punk rock ZigZag magazine in August 1977 at 23 and has since written biographies of musicians and rock stars, including Primal Scream, Joe Strummer and Keith Richards.
Early life In 1972, Needs became the secretary of the Mott The Hoople fan club, the Sea Divers, which he ran from his home in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. In 2015 he wrote the authorised biography of Suicide; Dream Baby Dream: Suicide; A New York Story.
In 2022, he was writing for various UK music magazines, including MOJO, Record Collector, Classic Rock, Prog, Electronic Sound, Vive Le Rock and Shindig!. In May 2017, he launched No More Big Wheels with author Helen Donlon, an online outlet for cultural essays beyond the remits of the magazines.
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Important facts
People in Kris Needs's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Kris Needs's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Kris Needs?
British music critic
When was Kris Needs born?
Kris Needs was born on 2 July 1954.
What is Kris Needs's occupation?
Kris Needs is a journalist, music critic, writer and music journalist.
What nationality is Kris Needs?
Kris Needs is British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Kris Needs. https://biography.guide/kris-needs/
MLA: "Kris Needs." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/kris-needs/.
Chicago: "Kris Needs." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/kris-needs/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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